GROWTH & MATURITY
that our professed love of the learning process is truly a desire to Especially in the beginning of our relationship to him, the biggest not have to finally make a decision and act. Even our insistence on steps we can take with success are often times related to our own not being a bother, can truly be an attempt to gain attention. C.S. daily behavior. God’s more likely early demand of me would be to Lewis brilliantly unravels the ways sin infects our personalities in both perhaps treat my mother with more respect, to abandon the notion The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce. These books had that a white lie is any other color than a black lie, or to step up and a great impact on changing my perspective about some of those pay for the gas when it is my turn. In all truthfulness these demands traits that I had been proud to brag about in the past. never go away. It is the daily small behaviors of the Christian that Since we are different, and since what we are meant to form the foundation of all great Christian acts. If you can be faithful be is probably not clear to us, though it is to him, we should expect with these small things, it may be that Christ will ask something that our walk, our process, our adventure, will be unique and greater of you, but you will quickly find that these small behaviors surprising. There is, however, a common element that reaches into are anything but easy to clean up. You can succeed at them, but the Christian walk for all of us. The one common thread is that the not without a lot of pain and repentance. And you will find them attention that we get from Christ when we invite him into our lives everywhere. and continue to invite him into our lives is immense. I could never Imagine the world as new and unpredictable. Imagine that have guessed how much work I needed. I’m sure I have no idea you are forging a path through a foreign land. You are a Samari, even now. And it is not just that I’m broken and need healing, it’s or a Ninja, or a Knight, at once going forth in the name of the King, that he wants me to run and be victorious. He is not grooming me while yourself being tested and purified. What’s going to happen? to survive, but to win. Who knows. The fact is we never know how things are going to I must quickly say that what I used to think victory was is go, but we think we do. We imagine a scenario we’d like to see play far from what I think it is today. Today the victory I seek is a truer, out and then move in that direction. “I think I’ll get married when more robust, and more victorious victory where there is no finish I’m in my late twenties. Three kids, I think. And I’ll have a career in line but a constant expectancy of joy, vigor, and approval. Also, it is something creative. Yes, that’s it.” Having a plan is a good thing. not a victory over someone else (though it may be over something But when Christ is walking you through the adventure of your life, else like sin). It may be participating in bringing more justice or remember that how the adventure unfolds, by definition, is not peace into the world, something Christ would have done. It is not something you can anticipate. It’s how you move through it that a victory that sets me above others, but is no less of a victory. makes all the difference. As Christians, we are all connected, There are probably two easy errors of whether we understand it or perform action Christians fall into. The first is that it very well or not, Christ sees us in once we are saved, we are inclined to feel “Fortunately, it is Christ who saves union, as a coordinated group. Our we are somehow qualified and ordained the world. Not me. He uses the world to save the world. This is the judgmental place in that group is critical. Victory here is as the victory of an army. All Christian, shoving Jesus down everybody’s to start the testing, training, and for one and one for all. I think it is throat. This can be particularly annoying purification process in my life.” something like this that Christ has in to those around us who remember that store for us. just a week ago we were enthusiastically Anyway, the point is that this involved in something we are now quick to relationship to Christ must be personal and intimate. He wants to condemn. By the way, Christ did not introduce the world to morality be as close to you as you will let him. He knocks on the door and when he came to earth. Many non-Christians have a pretty clear will not come in unless you open the door. Insofar as you allow him, sense of right and wrong. When I suddenly became a Christian and he becomes the one next to you at all moments of the day and just as suddenly appointment myself as an authority in all matters night. Everything that happens to you should be viewed in light of of morality and justice, I did not win many listeners. Fortunately, it is what it might be that he is trying to show you. And every action Christ who saves the world. Not me. He uses the world to start the you take should likewise be viewed in light of whether it seems he testing, training, and purification process in my life. Young Christians is urging you toward it or not. Again, he will communicate with you find the world working on them more than they find themselves by any means he deems appropriate, whether it be through those working on the world. Old Christians do too. around you in the church, your grouchy siblings, or your strange This is why going to church is so important. Scripture is neighbors. Look for his encouragement and council everywhere. very clear that we Christians need to be around each other every When I say stuff like this, I immediately want to un-say bit as much as we need to be out there in the world. The church is it. I imagine the gullible reader taking this in and then listening to called the body of Christ, and as a Christian, new or old, you are his crazy uncle say something like, “God wants you to give all your part of that. It may seem uncomfortable to step into a place where money to some small church in Africa, and then live on the street.” (depending on the church) people are very inclined to walk right Could he want you to do that? He is sovereign. It is possible. In my up to you and start a conversation. But that is partly the point. experience God asks us to do those things that are within reach – Apart from the obvious benefits of being in a society of people who that we could actually succeed at – and are in context to our lives. are invested in the same savior you are, Christ has no intention 8 new identity magazine
ISSUE 13
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